Dharius Daniels - Bossology 101

For the next several weeks, I’m going to lean into this. I believe this word has prophetic implications for us. I think right now it is a timely word, so I want to begin a series of teachings today called «Boss Moves.» I want to read a scripture today found in the book of John, chapter 3, verse 22. I normally don’t read a lot of scripture; I teach the Bible and do my best to incorporate it throughout the message. I don’t like to read a lot at the beginning, but I feel like this story may not be as familiar to some. Therefore, I want to make sure we grasp what I believe God is going to say to us through the scriptures.

The Bible says this: After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized. Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salem because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. This was before John was put in prison. An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, «Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one you testified about, look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him. They’re going to his church, his company, his team, that neighborhood.»

In verse 27, John replied, «A person can only receive what is given to them from heaven. See, watch this—you yourselves can testify that I am not the Messiah, but I am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.»

Since this series, «Boss Moves,» is about a theology of dominion, I felt it was important and appropriate to tag a title to this text that reflects that. So, I want to talk in this first lesson from the topic «Bossology 101.»

Now, family, there are a number of words that can be used to describe this gentleman from Galilee named Jesus. However, I want to lift up one today that is biblically appropriate yet culturally relevant: family, Jesus was a boss. As a matter of fact, Jesus is the ultimate expression and epitome of what it means to be a boss. I would argue and contend that if you look up «boss» in the dictionary, you should see a picture of Jesus’s face beside it because there is no other human in history that has been and is as influential as Jesus. History is divided into BC and AC, based on his birth and his death. The book written about him, the Bible, has sold more copies than any other book in human history, has been translated into more languages than any other book, and is reaching more people in terms of its generational relevance than any other book. He has been gone or absent from this earth in bodily form for over 2020 years. Yet people still enthusiastically gather to worship him, as we are doing right now, to learn from him, as we are doing right now, and to learn about him, as we are doing right now. If we’re going to call anybody a boss, Jesus is a boss.

Those of us who have been saved by his sacrifice and follow his leadership have been regenerated and recreated with the capacity to be a boss as well—to step into your dominion. Part of this series of sermons that I’m starting today is intended to inspire you, encourage you, and admonish you to step into your «boss-ness.» I have two words for you, and I need preaching partners watching me to help me preach—not just watch me preach. Put this in the chat for everyone: Put «Boss Up!» Yes, those are the two words I want you to drop in the chat right now: «Boss Up!»

I know we’re in the middle of a pandemic, but Boss Up! I know things are uncertain right now, but Boss Up! I know you’re dealing with pressure in ways you have never dealt with before, but I’m coming with two words to encourage you today, and those two words are: Boss Up! You may say, «Pastor, I’m dealing with burdens.» Well, maybe God uses the burdens on you to bring out the boss in you. Boss Up!

I want you to catch this, family, and I want you to be clear on what I mean when I use this word. I am taking a cultural term, but that doesn’t mean I share the cultural meaning. Just because I’m saying the same thing that’s said in culture doesn’t mean I mean the same thing. I’m redeeming the word because when I say «boss,» this is what I mean: family, I’m not talking about culture’s way, I’m not talking about the church or religion’s way, I’m talking about the King or Christ’s way. So, when I say «boss,» this is what I mean: a boss is a leader who assertively takes responsibility for their responsibilities. Do you see? Did you hear what I just said? A boss is a leader who assertively takes responsibility for their responsibilities. You see, the word there…